The Rookie promises action, emotion, and surprising moments in every episode, and The Rookie season 7, episode 16, “The Return,” had all those things and more. The episode aired one hour later than usual and focused on three main storylines: a case involving an influencer, Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) taking the sergeant’s exam with some help from Tim Bradford (Eric Winter), and a memorable character’s comeback.
So far this season, Bailey Nune (Jenna Dewan) and John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) have considered adoption, which is a moving and frustrating storyline since it’s unfair that the couple has reached so many roadblocks. It’s been a jam-packed season, and a lot happened at the end of The Rookie season 7, episode 16, too.
What Happens At The End Of The Rookie Season 7, Episode 16, “The Return”?
Seth Ridley (Patrick Keleher) and the LAPD officers on The Rookie
At the end of The Rookie season 7, episode 16, “The Return,” Tim offers to drive Lucy to her sergeant’s exam and quiz her. There’s a funny moment when Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) gives Tim a look as she can tell that the former couple wants to get back together. Then, Nolan shares that he’s still looking for Gene Webster, a man who was released from prison on a clerical error and has five years left in his sentence. This storyline is one of the saddest in The Rookie season 7 as he stopped a teenager from robbing a convenience store. Nolan calls him a “hero” and feels bad about the situation, as Gene has a wife and daughter. Emotional plotlines like this one are one reason why The Rookie stands out from other police TV dramas.
Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) and Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) talk to Aimee (Jade Pettyjohn, the girlfriend of influencer Tulsa Braeden who was livestreaming a stunt and crashed their car into the water. They try to convince Aimee to choose a different path, but Aimee is stubborn and says she wants to continue getting social media attention.
Next, Tim offers to drive Lucy to her sergeant’s exam, and in a hilarious scene, Celina Juarez (Lisseth Chavez) can tell that they still have feelings for each other. Tim supports Lucy and tells her of course she’s going to pass, which is yet another reason why fans hope that they will get back together. Lucy and Tim bonded again in the previous episode, and the show seems to be setting the stage for their reunion.
In one of the most terrifying moments in The Rookie season 7, a shootout occurs when Nolan and Seth realize that Gene and his wife gave a man he knew from prison $5,000 in the hopes he would help them escape. The man wants more money and threatens to kill them. Seth gets shot and goes to the hospital, and a doctor shares that his leg was amputated.
Nolan talks to Seth in the hospital and gives him some advice. Even when Nolan is upset with someone, he can’t help but be a mentor. It’s one of the talented Nathan Fillion’s best scenes in the season. Nolan says:
“This tragedy brought you to a crossroads. You can choose a different path. It’s just going to require complete honesty.”
The Rookie season 7, episode 16 ends with a big confession from Seth: he knew he didn’t have cancer. He admits this to his fiancée Tamara Colins (Dylan Conrique), who realizes that Lucy was right to share her worries about him. Tulsa and Aimee’s storyline wraps up when the team learns Aimee planned the crash so she could publicly shame Tulsa and launch skincare line called Survivor Skincare.
The Rookie Season 7, Episode 16 Brought Back Seth Ridley In A Compelling Storyline
While it seemed like Seth Ridley was gone from The Rookie, “The Return” brings an interesting resolution to his storyline. Seth’s confession means that Lucy Chen was right all along, which proves she should always follow her gut instincts. Instead of treating Seth like a villain, The Rookie shows that he’s a layered character who feels bad about what he did.
In an interview with Us Weekly, Melissa O’Neil commented on Lucy’s warnings about Seth. She said:
“Lucy gives people the benefit of the doubt a lot of the time. [So] for her to be encountering this young man, this young rookie who’s got a super sweet face and he says everything, he gives you all the right lip service to want to trust him and give him the benefit of the doubt. For some reason, our eternal optimist in the world of The Rookie just smells something stinky.”
The Rookie season 7’s fun, entertaining, and memorable episodes are all likely leading up to a fascinating finale, and there are only a few episodes left. It will be interesting to see if Seth comes back in any more episodes this season. Even if he doesn’t, this was an unforgettable comeback.
